Is moving to Florida a good idea?

I read many blog and vlogs and articles and a reoccurring theme from many readers is to ask: is moving to
Florida a good idea?

Asking that question is like asking "Will I like broccoli?" How is anyone supposed to know whether moving to Florida is a good idea for you? You are the only person who can answer that question.

The reasons for moving to Florida can be different for everyone. There are some common themes (I am sick of winter) but the specifics are all different. A major factor in the decision is attitude. A great attitude will overcome challenges (and there will be challenges) but a poor attitude will sink into despair. 

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, or, in this case, in Florida. But is it? There are going to be challenges where ever you live. Things you like. Things you don't like. Florida is not a utopia.

I heard from one guy in New York. He was ranting how he was sick of New York. Sick of all the stop signs and red lights and old people driving 15 miles an hour. The high crime of New York, and the poor schools. I heard that and thought: these are the issues Floridians usually complain about. Slow traffic and red lights? Take a trip down Rt 192 from Four Corners eastward past Kissimmee and then we can have a conversation about traffic!

The point is, is one place really all that better than another?

Maybe.

I can't answer that for you. No one can.

You should take a trip to Florida. Not a vacation. But a trip. Try living there for a few weeks. Grocery shop, go out to eat, drive around during rush hour. Find the things that bug you a little and understand that annoyance might grow and fester. Drive out to the beach where you'll pay an expressway toll every two miles - think that'll bug you after a while? 

Do that and then decide whether or not this is a good move for you.

Chinese Drywall

Buyer Be Ware!

When I first heard about this problem I thought it was a joke. But make no mistake, this is not a joke!

After 2001, and during the housing boom, cheap drywall was imported from China. The drywall emits sulfur under humid conditions. those sulfur emissions corrodes copper and makes people sick and is throughout Florida. Houses that have sit empty for a year without air conditioning to control the home humidity could be very bad. The corroding can turn the copper electrical wiring to dust, ruin plumbing, damage refrigerators and appliances, and break air conditioners. Remediation requires, basically, gutting the house to its studs and starting over.

There are regulations for remediating Chinese Drywall, but many contractors will do just the minimum and will not do a complete job - like not replacing the electrical wiring.

The only way to be sure is to have the home inspected for Chinese Drywall or Chinese drywall damage before buying the house.

Moving To Florida Blog

I have been reading the blog Moving To Florida 

http://www.stateoffloridaliving.com/

by Ron Stake. 

It appears that Ron's approach is to convince everyone that moving to Florida is a bad idea. Ron moved to florida around 1995 and he has seen a lot of change. specifically, he has seen the real estate  market crash and a lot of commercial development. I suspect this has turned him negative.

Regardless, I encourage you to read his blog. If considering moving to Florida? You need to do a ton of research. you should listen to opinions you agree with and dont. hear things you want to hear and dont want to hear. You cant only read that Florida is unicorns and rainbows - you need to hear about Florida from multiple perspectives.

As you read Ron's blog, you should be able to tell which points are valid, an which points are exaggerated by Ron's negativity. If you can't tell the difference? You aren't ready to move and need to do further research.

I have many family and friends who moved to Florida, they love it, and regularly encourage me to move too.

So, where is the truth about Florida? I think it lies somewhere between the hype and Ron's assessments. And I think the truth is different for everyone.

So, include Ron'a blog in your research. You'll find the posts tend to be easily negative, but he is less negative when answering people's questions. And Ron needs to be given credit for the time and effort he puts into the blog. Just read it with a critical eye compared to what you know to be true.

. 

Bringing Florida Home

My move to Florida may be several years away, but I have brought Florida home. My office lacks a window so I installed an electronic window. This is a 32" TV I bought real cheap on Black Friday connected to an old PC. On this TV, I display video I have looped from past trips:

Http://www.livestream.com/palmtree

(The site might take a while to load because it sometime struggles to load an initial ad)

My digital window looks out at a Florida neighborhood. Occasionally, it changes to the backyard pool. All throughout my workday, I can look out the window and imagine my house is in Florida instead of buried in three feet of snow.

Free college in Florida

Moving to Florida can be very expensive and can seem financially daunting to a family raising kids and trying to save for college.

But what if most of the college expenses were paid for you?

Florida has a state lottery system that brings in hundreds of millions of dollars. That lottery income is used to fund the Bright Futures program. This is a program that will pay for all or part (depending on GPA) of tuition to a Florida university for one out of every eight school graduates. Some years, the number has been as high as one out of four graduates! It is all based on merit, so, if your child can maintain a 3.0 GPA in high school, do service credits, and score well on the ACT and SAT? They may be eligible for the program if they graduate from a qualifying public or private high school in Florida.

Is the free college worth it? You'll need to consider that the Florida public school system in one of the worse in the nation. But there are excellent private schools. Regardless of public or private they are highly Spanish speaking, which could be a disadvantage for an English-only student.

In other words, there are trade-offs. Decisions like these are never easy. You may be able to solve the financial concern of paying for college by moving to Florida in exchange for several challenging high school years.

You may owe taxes after moving to Florida.

One of the benefits of moving the Florida is that you don't pay income taxes. However, unless you are careful, you may end up owing taxes to you previous state!  Especially if you are moving out of New York State or California.

If you spend more than 183 days in your old state? They may want to collect income tax! Are you going to move before the 183rd day of the year? if not - plan to pay.

Even if you move before the 183rd day, unless you officially cut your ties to your old state, it can be difficult to prove you relocated. For example, imagine if you move but your house takes four months to sell after you left? 

Here is some advice from CNN Money: As soon as you move, you should change your driver's license, car registrations, voter registration and mailing address for all bills and financial statements. You may also need to file a non-resident return to your old state if you earned any income there.

If it looks like you might still have connections to your old state that extend beyond 183 days? The state may come after you! Still have ties to your old church or some other organization? Watch out! Need to travel back to visit family or close a house sale? Be careful during that first year that you don't appear to exceed 183 days.

In case you have to prove you relocated, keep a meticulous travel log, complete with gas, toll and airline receipts, credit card records and the like.

Their goal will be to show that you primarily spend your time in your old state. Your goal will be to prove them wrong.

What you need to know before moving to Florida

I came across this site created by Sharon Therien that explains what you need to know about Florida before you move there: http://www.movoto.com/fl/moving-to-florida/

1. Get used to weather that will make you crazy
2. You'll immediately become a beach person
3. And probably get lost in the swamps and jungles
4. Florida is where dreams come true
5. You can (and probably will) live the private life
6. Everyone is more mature than you
7. The world's biggest beach party
8. Florida is a bunch of states living together
9. No one agrees on driving
10. Florida is a melting pot
11. You can take up celeb stalking
12. Snowbirds migrate to Florida every year
13. All those tourists are actually good for you
14. Brace yourself: Spring break is coming
15. You can make a date with a dolphin
16. You'll catch the need for speed
17. Move over Houston
18. Spring for every season
19. Florida has the venice of America
20. Key West is New Orleans without the crazy
21 And you can walk from one shore to another
22. Everyone loves the taste of Florida in the morning
23. You should just learn golf now
24. Headquarters for the 1%
25. One capitol isn't enough for Floridians

To see the remaining 4? Visit the west site. I found it very entertaining.